(PDF
of this page)Earthquakes
strike suddenly, without
warning. Earthquakes can occur
at any time of the year and
at any time
of the day or night. On a yearly basis, 70 to 75 damaging earthquakes
occur
throughout the world. Estimates of losses from a future earthquake in
the
United States approach $200 billion.

There
are 41 states and territories in the United
States at moderate
to high risk from earthquakes, and
they are located in every
region
of the country. California experiences the most frequent damaging
earthquakes;
however, Alaska experiences the greatest number of large
earthquakes-most
located in uninhabited areas. The
largest earthquakes felt in
the contiguous
United States were along the New Madrid Fault in Missouri, where a
three-month
long series of quakes from 1811 to 1812 included three quakes larger
than
a magnitude of 8 on the
Richter Scale.
These earthquakes were felt over the
entire Eastern
United States, with Missouri, Tennessee, Kentucky, Indiana, Illinois,
Ohio,
Alabama, Arkansas, and Mississippi experiencing the strongest ground
shaking.

What Are Earthquakes, and What Causes Them?

An earthquake is a sudden,
rapid shaking of the Earth caused
by the
breaking and shifting of rock beneath the Earth's surface.
For hundreds
of millions of years, the forces of plate tectonics have shaped the
Earth
as the huge plates that form the Earth's surface move slowly over,
under,
and past each other. Sometimes the movement is gradual. At other times,
the plates are locked together, unable to release the accumulating
energy.
When the accumulated energy grows strong enough, the plates break free
causing the ground to shake. Most earthquakes occur at the boundaries
where
the plates meet; however, some earthquakes occur in the middle of
plates.

Ground
shaking from earthquakes can collapse
buildings and bridges;
disrupt gas, electric, and phone service; and sometimes trigger
landslides,
avalanches, flash floods, fires, and huge, destructive ocean waves
(tsunamis).
Buildings with foundations resting on unconsolidated landfill and other
unstable soil, and trailers and homes not tied to their foundations are
at risk because they can be shaken off their mountings during an
earthquake.
When an earthquake occurs in a populated area, it may cause deaths and
injuries and extensive property damage.

The
Northridge, California, earthquake of January 17,
1994, struck
a modern urban environment generally designed to withstand the forces
of
earthquakes. Its economic cost, nevertheless, has been estimated at $20
billion. Fortunately, relatively
few lives were lost. Exactly
one year
later, Kobe, Japan, a densely populated community less prepared for
earthquakes
than Northridge, was devastated by the most costly earthquake ever to
occur.
Property losses were projected at $96 billion, and at least 5,378
people
were killed. These two earthquakes tested building codes and
construction
practices, as well as emergency preparedness and response procedures.

Where earthquakes have occurred
in the past, they will happen
again.
Learn whether earthquakes are a risk in your area by contacting your
local
emergency management office, American
Red Cross chapter, state
geological survey, or department of
natural
resources.

Awareness Information

Expect aftershocks.
Aftershocks are smaller
earthquakes that follow
the main shock and can cause further damage to weakened buildings.
After-shocks
can occur in the first hours, days, weeks, or even months after the
quake.
Be aware that some earthquakes are actually foreshocks, and a larger
earthquake
might occur.

Ground
movement during an earthquake is seldom the
direct cause of
death or injury. Most
earthquake-related injuries result
from collapsing
walls, flying glass, and falling objects as a result of the ground
shaking,
or people trying to move more than a few feet during the shaking. Much
of the damage in earthquakes is predictable and preventable. We must
all
work together in our communities to apply our knowledge to building
codes,
retrofitting programs, hazard hunts, and neighborhood and family
emergency
plans.

Plan for an Earthquake

Develop a Family Disaster Plan.
Please see the "Family
Disaster Plan" section for
general family planning
information. Develop
earthquake-specific planning. Learn
about earthquake risk in
your area.
Contact your local emergency management office, American Red Cross
chapter,
state geological survey, or department of natural resources for
historical
information and earthquake preparedness for your area. Although there
are
41 states or territories at moderate to high risk, many people do not
realize
the potential for earthquakes in their area.

If
you are at risk from earthquakes:

Pick
"safe places" in each room of your home.
A safe place could
be under a sturdy table or desk or against an interior wall away from
windows,
bookcases, or tall furniture that could fall on you. The shorter the
distance
to move to safety, the less likely you will be injured. Injury
statistics
show that persons moving more than 10 feet during an earthquake's
shaking
are most likely to experience injury.

Practice
drop, cover, and hold-on in each safe
place. Drop under
a sturdy desk or table, hold on, and protect your eyes by pressing your
face against your arm. Practicing will make these actions an automatic
response. When an earthquake or other disaster occurs, many people
hesitate,
trying to remember what they are supposed to do. Responding quickly and
automatically may help protect you from injury.

Talk
with your insurance agent.
Different areas have different requirements
for earthquake protection. Study locations of active faults, and if you
are at risk, consider purchasing earthquake insurance.

Inform
guests, babysitters, and caregivers of
your plan. Everyone
in your home should know what to do if an earthquake occurs. Assure
yourself
that others will respond properly even if you are not at home during
the
earthquake.

Get
training. Take a first aid class
from your local Red Cross chapter.
Get training on how to use a fire extinguisher from your local fire
department.
Keep your training current. Training will help you to keep calm and
know
what to do when an earthquake occurs.

Discuss
earthquakes with your family.
Everyone should know what
to do in case all family members are not together. Discussing
earthquakes
ahead of time helps reduce fear and anxiety and lets everyone know how
to respond.

What to Tell Children

Find
safe places in every room of your home and
your classroom. Look
for safe places inside and outside of other buildings where you spend
time.
The shorter the distance you have to travel when the ground shakes, the
safer you will be. Earthquakes can happen anytime and anywhere, so be
prepared
wherever you go.

If
you're indoors during an earthquake, drop,
cover, and hold on.
Get under a desk, table or bench. Hold on to one of the legs and cover
your eyes. If there's no table or desk nearby, sit down against an
interior
wall. An interior wall is less likely to collapse than a wall on the
outside
shell of the building. Pick a safe place where things will not fall on
you, away from windows, bookcases, or tall, heavy furniture. It is
dangerous
to run outside when an earthquake happens because bricks, roofing, and
other materials may fall from buildings during and immediately
following
earthquakes, injuring persons near the buildings.

Wait
in your safe place until the shaking stops,
then check to see if
you are hurt. You will be better
able to help others if you
take care
of yourself first, then check the people around you. Move carefully and
watch out for things that have fallen or broken, creating hazards. Be
ready
for additional earthquakes called "aftershocks."

Be
on the lookout for fires. Fire
is
the most common earthquake-related
hazard, due to broken gas lines, damaged electrical lines or
appliances,
and previously contained fires or sparks being released.

If
you must leave a building after the shaking
stops, use the stairs,
not the elevator. Earthquakes
can cause fire alarms and fire
sprinklers
to go off. You will not be certain whether there is a real threat of
fire.
As a precaution, use the stairs.

If
you're outside in an earthquake, stay
outside. Move away from buildings,
trees, streetlights, and power lines. Crouch down and cover your head.
Many injuries occur within 10 feet of the entrance to buildings.
Bricks,
roofing, and other materials can fall from buildings, injuring persons
nearby. Trees, streetlights, and power lines may also fall, causing
damage
or injury.

Assemble a Disaster
Supplies Kit

Please see the "Disaster
Supplies Kit" section
for general supplies kit information. Earthquake-specific supplies
should
include the following:

A
flashlight and sturdy shoes by each person's
bedside.

Disaster
Supplies Kit basics

Evacuation Supply Kit.

How to Protect Your Property

Bolt
bookcases, china cabinets, and other tall
furniture to wall studs.
Brace or anchor high or top-heavy objects.
During an
earthquake, these
items can fall over, causing damage or injury.

Install
flexible pipe fittings to avoid gas or
water leaks. Flexible
fittings will be less likely to break.

Repair
any deep cracks in ceilings or
foundations. Get expert advice
if there are signs of structural defects.
Earthquakes can
turn cracks
into ruptures and make smaller problems bigger.

Check
to see if your house is bolted to its
foundation. Homes bolted
to their foundations are less likely to be severely damaged during
earthquakes.
Homes that are not bolted have been known to slide off their
foundations,
and many have been destroyed because they are uninhabitable.

Consider
having your building evaluated by a
professional structural
design engineer. Ask about home
repair and strengthening tips
for exterior
features, such as porches, front and back decks, sliding glass doors,
canopies,
carports, and garage doors. Learn about additional ways you can protect
your home. A professional can give you advice on how to reduce
potential
damage.

Follow
local seismic building standards
and safe land use codes
that regulate land use along fault lines. Some municipalities,
counties,
and states have enacted codes and standards to protect property and
occupants.
Learn about your area's codes before construction.

Media and Community Education Ideas

Ask
your community to develop stronger building
codes. Building
codes are the public's first line of defense against earthquakes. The
codes
specify the levels of earthquake forces that structures must be
designed
to withstand. As ground motions of greater intensity have been
recorded,
the minimum earthquake requirements specified in building codes have
been
raised.

Publish
a special section in your local
newspaper with emergency information
on earthquakes. Localize the
information by printing the
phone numbers
of local emergency services offices, the American Red Cross, and
hospitals.

Conduct
a week-long newspaper series on locating
hazards in the home.

Work
with local emergency services and American
Red Cross officials to
prepare special reports for people with mobility impairments about what
to do during an earthquake.

Provide
tips on conducting earthquake drills in
the home.

Interview
representatives of the gas, electric,
and water companies
about shutting off utilities.

What to Do During an Earthquake

Drop,
cover, and hold on! Move only a
few steps to a nearby safe
place. Most injured persons in earthquakes move more than five feet
during
the shaking. It is very dangerous to try to leave a building during an
earthquake because objects can fall on you. Many fatalities occur when
people run outside of buildings, only to be killed by falling debris
from
collapsing walls. In U.S. buildings, you are safer to stay where you
are.

If
you are in bed, hold on and stay there,
protecting your head with
a pillow. You are less likely to
be injured staying where you
are.
Broken glass on the floor has caused injury to those who have rolled to
the floor or tried to get to doorways.

If
you are outdoors, find a clear spot away from
buildings, trees, streetlights,
and power lines. Drop to the ground and stay there until the shaking
stops.
Injuries can occur from falling trees, street-lights and power lines,
or
building debris.

If
you are in a vehicle, pull over to a clear
location, stop and stay
there with your seatbelt fastened until the shaking has stopped.
Trees,
power lines, poles, street signs, and other overhead items may fall
during
earthquakes. Stopping will help reduce your risk, and a hard-topped
vehicle
will help protect you from flying or falling objects. Once the shaking
has stopped, proceed with caution. Avoid bridges or ramps that might
have
been damaged by the quake.

Stay
indoors until the shaking stops and you're
sure it's safe to exit.
More injuries happen when people move during the shaking of an
earthquake.
After the shaking has stopped, if you go outside, move quickly away
from
the building to prevent injury from falling debris.

Stay
away from windows. Windows can
shatter with such force that
you can be injured several feet away.

In
a high-rise building, expect the fire alarms
and sprinklers to go
off during a quake. Earthquakes
frequently cause fire alarm
and fire
sprinkler systems to go off even if there is no fire. Check for and
extinguish
small fires, and, if exiting, use the stairs.

If
you are in a coastal area, move to higher
ground. Tsunamis are
often created by earthquakes. (See the "Tsunami"section
for more information).

If
you are in a mountainous area or near
unstable slopes or cliffs,
be alert for falling rocks and other debris that could be loosened by
the
earthquake. Landslides commonly
happen after earthquakes.
(See the "Landslide"
section for more information.)

What to Do After an Earthquake

Check
yourself for injuries. Often
people tend to others without
checking their own injuries. You will be better able to care for others
if you are not injured or if you have received first aid for your
injuries.

Protect
yourself from further danger by putting
on long pants, a long-sleeved
shirt, sturdy shoes, and work gloves.
This will protect your
from further
injury by broken objects.

After
you have taken care of yourself, help
injured or trapped persons.
If you have it in your area, call 9-1-1, then give first aid when
appropriate.
Don't try to move seriously injured people unless they are in immediate
danger of further injury.

Look
for and extinguish small fires. Eliminate
fire hazards. Putting
out small fires quickly, using available resources, will prevent them
from
spreading. Fire is the most common hazard following earthquakes. Fires
followed the San Francisco earthquake of 1906 for three days, creating
more damage than the earthquake.

Leave
the gas on at the main valve, unless you
smell gas or think it's
leaking. It may be weeks or
months before professionals can
turn gas
back on using the correct procedures. Explosions have caused injury and
death when homeowners have improperly turned their gas back on by
themselves.

Clean
up spilled medicines, bleaches, gasoline,
or other flammable liquids
immediately. Avoid the hazard of
a chemical emergency.

Open
closet and cabinet doors cautiously.
Contents may have shifted
during the shaking of an earthquake and could fall, creating further
damage
or injury.

Inspect
your home for damage. Get everyone out
if your home is unsafe.
Aftershocks following earthquakes can cause further damage to unstable
buildings. If your home has experienced damage, get out before
aftershocks
happen.

Help
neighbors who may require special
assistance. Elderly people
and people with disabilities may require additional assistance. People
who care for them or who have large families may need additional
assistance
in emergency situations.

Listen
to a portable, battery-operated radio (or
television) for updated
emergency information and instructions.
If the electricity is
out,
this may be your main source of information. Local radio and local
officials
provide the most appropriate advice for your particular situation.

Expect
aftershocks. Each time you feel
one, drop, cover, and hold
on! Aftershocks frequently occur minutes, days, weeks, and even months
following an earthquake.

Watch
out for fallen power lines or broken gas
lines, and stay out of
damaged areas. Hazards caused by
earthquakes are often
difficult to
see, and you could be easily injured.

Stay
out of damaged buildings. If you
are away from home, return
only when authorities say it is safe. Damaged buildings may be
destroyed
by aftershocks following the main quake.

Use
battery-powered lanterns or flashlights to
inspect your home.
Kerosene lanterns, torches, candles, and matches may tip over or ignite
flammables inside.

Inspect
the entire length of chimneys carefully
for damage. Unnoticed
damage could lead to fire or injury from falling debris during an
aftershock.
Cracks in chimneys can be the cause of a fire years later.

Take
pictures of the damage, both to the house
and its contents, for
insurance claims.

When entering buildings, use
extreme caution.
Building damage may
have occurred where you least expect it. Carefully watch every step you
take.

Examine
walls, floor, doors, staircases, and
windows to make sure that
the building is not in danger of collapsing.

Check
for gas leaks. If you smell gas
or hear a blowing or hissing
noise, open a window and quickly leave the building. Turn off the gas,
using the outside main valve if you can, and call the gas company from
a neighbor's home. If you turn off the gas for any reason, it must be
turned
back on by a professional.

Look
for electrical system damage. If
you see sparks or broken or
frayed wires, or if you smell burning insulation, turn off the
electricity
at the main fuse box or circuit breaker. If you have to step in water
to
get to the fuse box or circuit breaker, call an electrician first for
advice.

Check
for sewage and water line damage.
If you suspect sewage lines
are damaged, avoid using the toilets and call a plumber. If water pipes
are damaged, contact the water company and avoid using water from the
tap.
You can obtain safe water from undamaged water heaters or by melting
ice
cubes.

Watch
for loose plaster, drywall, and ceilings
that could fall.

Use
the telephone only to report
life-threatening emergencies.
Telephone
lines are frequently overwhelmed in disaster situations. They need to
be
clear for emergency calls to get through.

Watch
animals closely. Leash dogs and place them
in a fenced yard.
The behavior of pets may change dramatically after an earthquake.
Normally
quiet and friendly cats and dogs may become aggressive or defensive.